Tennessee recovers in nick of time

Tennessee forward Cierra Burdick (right) blocks a shot by Northwestern State's Keisha Lee during the first half of the Lady Vols' 70-46 victory.

Photo: Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

Tennessee coach Holly Warlick was so sick Saturday morning she initially feared she wouldn't be able to coach the top-seeded Lady Vols in their NCAA tournament opener.

What she saw in the first half likely turned her stomach even more.

Tennessee, the No. 1 seed in the Louisville Regional, was tied with No. 16 seed Northwestern State early in the second half before pulling away for a 70-46 victory. The Lady Vols (28-5) won despite scoring just four points and making no baskets in the last eight minutes of the first half.

Warlick said she came down with a stomach illness at about 2 a.m. Doctors visited her home to give her IV treatments. Warlick said she attempted to get another IV treatment at halftime, but “I wasn't still enough to finish the deal.”

“At 9 this morning, I didn't think I was coming to the game,” said Warlick, who indicated she's missed only two games for health reasons in her 29-year career as a head coach and assistant.

Warlick missed the team's morning shootaround. She joined her team for the game and sat on an orange stool during the first half while assistant coach Kyra Elzy stood and shouted instructions. Warlick stood throughout the second half and was much more animated as Tennessee gradually pulled away for its 14th win in its last 15 games.

Northwestern State (21-13), trying to become the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed since Harvard stunned Stanford in 1998, forced a 22-22 tie early in the second half before the Lady Vols (28-5) scored 12 straight points to seize control.

After shooting just 22.6 percent (7 of 31) in the first half, Tennessee shot 58.1 percent (18 of 31) the rest of the way.